Cultural Pass, Magoffin County Marine’s Uniform, Pope Lick Monster Meets Abraham Lincoln, and More
Today is Memorial Day and it may mean time spent with family, with friends, at the pool, or maybe even at a cookout.
For many, it’s also time spent at the cemetery.
Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, began after the Civil War as a springtime tribute to fallen soldiers, with prayers and decorating graves with flowers.
Memorial Day was officially established as a federal holiday in 1971 and commemorates men and women who have died while serving the United States military.
The true meaning is rooted in remembrance.
It also serves as the unofficial start to summer, and for the Frazier Kentucky History Museum, we’re gearing up for Cultural Pass days, the official program starting May 30 and lasting through August 9.
At the Frazier, our Cultural Pass days are Sunday and Monday, so our first day will be Sunday, May 31. Passholders under eighteen get in free and can bring a guardian who also receives free admission.
On Sundays, we’ll have scavenger hunts and free rein of all three floors as well as KentuckyShow! On Mondays add in live engagements, a hands-on station, and tours—and it’s just too good to “pass” up.
And one other reminder: it’s time to remember dad in June, and our program Opening the West: Jackson Purchase Bourbon with Master Distiller Craig Beam may be the ticket.
The Frazier is among the first to select a barrel pick from Jackson Purchase with approval from Craig Beam himself!
Here’s the link to buy a ticket to our June 5 program and say cheers to dear old dad!
Rachel Platt
VP of Mission
Frazier Kentucky History Museum
This Week in the Museum
Curator’s Corner: Marine Sergeant Cassie Allen’s Uniform, c. 1940
United States Marine Corps uniform that belonged to Cassie Allen, c. 1940. From the Collection of the Frazier Kentucky History Museum.
In our upcoming exhibition I Too Am a Kentuckian, we celebrate many different types of Kentuckians: those who worked for civil rights and education for all, musicians, politicians, immigrants, lawyers, and more. I think one of the most impactful parts of the exhibition will be the section that focuses on Kentuckians who have served in the military. This section will feature one Kentuckian who fought in every major war, one Kentuckian from every branch of the armed forces, and women who served. The uniform of each of these service members will be on display, twenty-one in total. Today, in honor of Memorial Day, I would like to share with you the story of one of these men and women who will be featured in the exhibition.
For me, one of the most unique uniforms on display belonged to Cassie Allen. Cassie J. Patrick Allen was born in Magoffin County, Kentucky, in 1922. She served in the Marine Corp Reserves as a sergeant during World War II. After the war, Sergeant Allen became a lawyer and started her own law firm. Allen was active in the Red Cross and was the first president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 5839. She was a trailblazer and determined to serve as an example of what women are capable of.
The exhibition I Too Am a Kentuckian opens on July 4 and will remain open for a full year. I hope that you will take some time to stop by the exhibition during the United States’s 250th year to help honor these and all other Kentuckians who served in our armed forces.
Amanda Briede
Sr. Curator of Exhibitions
Cool Kentucky Shop: Cask Strength Smoking Chips
Cask strength smoking chips sold in the Frazier’s Cool Kentucky Shop.
Ladies and gentlemen, start your grills—cookout season has officially arrived. Elevate your grilling Kentucky-style with cask strength Bourbon barrel chips that add a rich, smoky flavor to everything from burgers to brisket. You’ll be the host with the most all summer long! It’s available in the Cool Kentucky Shop.
Kentucky Wide Podcast Season Two Launches June 1
Kentucky’s birthday means a new season of Kentucky Wide, a podcast created by the team here at the Frazier. Make sure you follow along for a whole new slate of great stories from the Commonwealth’s past.
Here’s a teaser to get you started!
Find the feed on Apple, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, and iHeart.
Mick Sullivan
Co-host and Producer, Kentucky Wide
Enjoy NARM Benefits of Family Contributor Membership
Guests explore the museum, November 5, 2024. Credit: Clay Cook.
Summer is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to become a Family Contributor member.
With free parking and unlimited admission for two adults, one guest, and any children or grandchildren, the Family Contributor membership ensures every visit is convenient and cost-effective all year long.
The North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) benefit included with the Family Contributor membership offers a summer full of excitement. NARM offers free reciprocal admission at more than 1,500 museums, cultural institutions, botanical gardens, and zoos across North America.
Whether you’re looking for local fun this summer or planning a getaway, you’ll likely find a NARM museum wherever you go.
Maximize your summer fun by becoming a Family Contributor member today!
Gwendolyn Gray
Membership Coordinator
Sign Up for Summer Camp Week One: Hometown History, June 1–5!
A Kentucky flag that features the Pope Lick Monster meeting Abraham Lincoln! Credit: Sarah Jemerson.
Guess what? Summer camps at the Frazier are back and we’ve got you covered with eight weeks of fun and learning. Each week has a special theme, starting June 1–5 with Hometown History. To kick off our first theme, we’ve decided to take a swing at redesigning the state flag. Our new version features the Pope Lick Monster and President Lincoln shaking hands. Campers in week one will enjoy learning about both these local legends, and much more!
We have a long “history” of unique and engaging camps. Click here to see all our exciting themes this summer and sign up. Add a sibling in the same week and get $10 off the additional booking!
Have questions? We’d love to hear from you at education@fraziermuseum.org.
Nicole Clay & Sarah Jemerson
Education Team Members
Twenty-Six New US Citizens Naturalized in Ceremony at Frazier
Friday was a special day here at the museum!
Twenty-six immigrants were officially naturalized as United States citizens during a ceremony at the Frazier.
First, the Frazier’s Hayley Harlow and Mick Sullivan performed “the Star-Spangled Banner.”
Then, Chief District Judge David Hale of the Western District of Kentucky led the individuals being naturalized in a recitation of the Oath of Allegiance, swearing to support the US Constitution, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Adrienne’s Bakery generously donated red, white, and blue treats for the occasion.
The individuals had immigrated from fifteen countries, including Congo, Burma, Cuba, Rwanda, South Korea, and Ukraine. And they each left the museum with a pin emblazoned with the name of the Frazier’s next exhibition: “I Too Am a Kentuckian.”
Thank you to the friends, family, and community members who came to show their support.
And congratulations to the new citizens!
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Last Chance to Vote for Frazier as Best Museum in Kentucky!
Last summer, Kentucky Living magazine readers crowned the Frazier the Best Museum in Kentucky. Now, the polls are open for the 2026 awards—but they close this Sunday, May 31!
If you want us to keep that crown, vote for us! You can vote once per day, per email address.
Thanks for your support!
Simon Meiners
Communications & Research Specialist
Highlights of 120: Mason County: When Maysville was Limestone
Map of Kentucky with Mason County featured.
In 2026, as we celebrate America250, we’re adding dozens of America250-themed entries to our 120: Cool KY Counties exhibit. These stories generally pertain to figures from the American Revolution and the early days of Kentucky. Learn more in our 120 exhibit.—Simon Meiners, Communications & Research Specialist
Early map of what is now Mason County, Kentucky, that identifies Limestone. Credit: Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park.
Most people are familiar with Daniel Boone the “explorer,” but how many know that he was a business owner as well? Indeed, from 1786 to 1789, Daniel Boone operated a tavern in an area more notable for buffalo herds than booze. The town of Limestone was established there a year later, becoming the first settlement west of the Allegheny Mountains. You can thank the wide mouth of Limestone Creek for this, as it created the perfect harbor for travelers heading west by flatboat. That same year, the Virginia General Assembly officially changed the settlement’s name to “Maysville” in honor of landowner John May. However, the name “Limestone” stuck around. The Post Office continued using “Limestone” for another twelve years. In some cases, it was well into the 20th century before many residents and businesses finally accepted “Maysville” as the official name.
Bridging the Divide
Graduation ceremony for students of the Goodwill Excel Center, 2025.
Talk about a game changer! Make that a life changer. We received a story from a woman named Dakota who attended Goodwill’s Excel Center on Preston Highway. It’s a first of its kind, free high school for adults. Since it opened in 2022, nearly 200 folks have graduated. It’s a place that transforms lives, certainly Dakota’s. Take the time to read her story and visit the website to learn more. We talk a lot about bridging divides at the Frazier, and I can’t think of a better example. As Dakota said, where she used to feel judged, at the Excel Center she felt understood.—Rachel Platt, VP of Mission
If you would have asked me a few years ago what my future looked like, I wouldn’t have had a clear answer.
Not because I didn’t care, but because I had never really been given the chance to think that far ahead.
Growing up, I didn’t have a normal relationship with school. I didn’t have the structure, the support, or the consistency that a lot of people rely on to build their education. For a long time, I felt like I was just trying to get through life day by day, not planning a future.
There were moments in my life where I felt like I didn’t have a voice. I didn’t get to make my own choices. Everything was about survival instead of growth.
So when it came to education, I wasn’t just a little behind.
I felt completely behind.
By the time I got to the point where I wanted something different for myself, it honestly felt too late, as if everyone else had already moved forward and I was just now trying to figure out where to even begin.
But what I didn’t know yet was that my story wasn’t over. It was just starting in a different place.
Finding the Excel Center changed everything for me.
When I first started, I was coming in with almost no academic foundation. I remember taking my placement tests and realizing just how far back I really was. I tested at about a third-grade level, especially in math, and that was overwhelming to face.
It would have been easy to walk away and tell myself this just wasn’t for me.
But something in me decided to stay.
And staying became one of the most important choices I’ve ever made.
Because it wasn’t easy.
There were days my brain felt completely drained. Days where I had to reread things over and over just to understand them. Days where I questioned if I was really capable of doing this.
But this time, I wasn’t alone.
At the Excel Center, the teachers don’t just teach. They see you. They notice when you’re struggling. They step in, they support you, and they remind you that you can do it, even when you don’t believe it yourself.
The people around me mattered too.
For the first time, I was surrounded by others who had real stories, people who had been through things and didn’t take the traditional path. Instead of feeling judged, I felt understood.
We weren’t competing. We were pushing each other forward.
And something else started to change in me too.
Growing up, I never really had the chance to develop strong social skills. I wasn’t used to speaking up, asking for help, or being comfortable around people. I stayed quiet. I kept to myself.
But being at the Excel Center slowly brought me out of that.
Little by little, I started opening up. I started asking questions. I started helping other students when they were stuck, even in subjects I used to struggle with myself.
That was a moment I didn’t expect.
Going from feeling lost in a classroom to becoming someone others could turn to.
That’s when I realized I wasn’t just learning schoolwork. I was growing as a person.
Over time, everything started to shift.
I stopped seeing myself as someone who was behind and started seeing myself as someone who was growing.
I went from doubting myself constantly to maintaining a 3.7 GPA, something I never imagined was possible.
But more than the grades, I gained something I had never really had before:
Confidence.
A voice.
And direction.
For the first time in my life, I could actually see a future for myself.
My next step is becoming a phlebotomist, working in a hospital, drawing blood, and being part of patient care in a way that matters. I want to do meaningful work. Work where even small moments can make a difference in someone’s life.
And from there, I plan to continue growing in the medical field and building a career I’m proud of.
Because now I know that I can.
That belief didn’t come easily. It came from every challenge I pushed through, every late night I kept going, and every person who refused to let me give up on myself.
As I get closer to graduation, I don’t just see a diploma.
I see every version of myself that almost didn’t make it here.
The version of me that felt voiceless.
The version of me that stayed quiet.
The version of me that felt behind.
The version of me that didn’t think a future like this was even possible.
And I wish I could go back and tell her something.
I would tell her she’s not behind.
She’s not too late.
And everything she’s been through isn’t holding her back, it’s what made her strong enough to keep going.
Because now, I’m not just walking across a stage.
I’m walking out as someone who found her voice.
Someone who learned how to believe in herself.
Someone who built her future from the ground up.
And this time,
I’m not just catching up.
I’m moving forward.
And I’m finally becoming who I was meant to be.
Dakota Moore is a graduating student at the Goodwill Excel Center in Kentucky. She plans to pursue a career in phlebotomy and continue building a future in the medical field.
Dakota Moore
Student, Goodwill Excel Center in Kentucky
Guest Contributor
